TT virus is present in a high frequency of Italian hemophilic patients transfused with plasma-derived clotting factor concentrates

Blood. 1999 Dec 15;94(12):4333-6.

Abstract

The prevalence of the blood-borne TT virus (TTV) in Italian hemophiliacs treated with different preparations of factor VIII was determined. Of the 178 hemophilic patients (mean age, 29 years), TTV-DNA was found in 123 (69%), in comparison to 22 of 100 (22%) blood donors (P <.0001). Of the 123 patients who tested positive for TTV, significant numbers were also infected with human hepatitis viruses and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): 31% had TTV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), 22% had TTV, and at least 2 of the 4 known human blood-borne viruses tested, whereas 15% had TTV alone. The risk of acquiring TTV alone was only slightly higher in recipients of unmodified plasma factor concentrates (78%, odds ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 to 5.79) than in patients treated with virus inactivated concentrates (67%), whereas the risk was significantly lower in recipients of recombinant factors (11%, odds ratio, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.52). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were elevated in 2 of 27 patients (7%) with TTV alone compared with 43 of 56 patients (77%) coinfected with TTV and HCV and compared with 16 of 21 patients (76%) with HCV alone. Taken together, these results indicate that TTV frequently infects Italian hemophiliacs treated with plasma-derived factor VIII concentrates, both unmodified and virus-inactivated. Our results do not suggest a causal effect of TTV on chronic liver disease in these patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Coagulation Factors / administration & dosage
  • Blood Coagulation Factors / adverse effects
  • Blood Coagulation Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • Female
  • Hemophilia A / therapy*
  • Hemophilia A / virology*
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Virus Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Virus Diseases / etiology*

Substances

  • Blood Coagulation Factors